[sbc]

I am in the laptop market and really beginning to like this machine. I have not used a Mac since 97-98 but I have some familiarity with it's environment. Just had a few questions

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?

4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

5. What case do you use?

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?

[veganpower88]

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

I get between 2-3 hours determing what I am doing. Any heavy apps like photoshop, final cut, etc. are going to lower that time. I don't really use my 17" in the true portable sense.

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?


I was using a PC before making the switch and I used a PC all the way through Design school going back and forth between MAC and PC. Normally I have no problems however they do arise from time to time but you learn to work around them. So you shouldn't have much of a problem there.

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?



I could be wrong but i don't think so?


4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

It is pretty compact for its screen size however to be honest I do find it a bit cumbersome at times to carry around, but it isn't anything that you don't get used to. I did take mine out on a flight but felt so cramped and the screen nearly touched the persons seat in front of me that I decided to put it notebook back up.

5. What case do you use?

I use a timbuk 17" XXL sleeve, I wanted a sleeve to take the notebook around in by itself. It fits snug and has NO ZIPPERS, which is a plus. I put the sleeve in my chrome messanger bag. I wanted a bag that didn't look like a briefcase and I ride a scooter so this fits nicely to my back.

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?


I have virtual PC and I am not all that impressed with it. I was excited at first that it was available because I didn't know what to expect from the mac osX platform at first. Now I love OSX and I don't use virtual pc anymore. Also virtual pc doesn't run your processor to its fullest power and it doesn't go full screen so it sort sucks. Plus the storage limitations stink too (although I am sure there is a way to change that). And yes I am running 1 gig of ram and it is great. The other day I had 5 programs open and over a gig of files open at the same time and it maintained. I guess that is it. sorry for the lengthy response. I hope it helps.




__________________
Am I read for the Mac?

[Ti X]

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

2-3 Hours when I am in portable mode.

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?

Not sure, I only own the Mac version of Dreamweaver. I am not exactly sure what you are asking.

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?

Not that I know of, no laptop video RAM that I know of is.

4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

Yes, definitely. I don't know what all the hype is about it being too large. I have an IBM Thinkpad through work, and that thing is heavier, thicker, deeper, and taller than my 17", so I don't see everyone's point. Ideally, if I was doing a lot of traveling, I would get the 12" anyway.

5. What case do you use?

Timbuk 2 sleeve, and Timbuk 2 computer commuter bag.

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?

Don't know, I have a PC when I need a PC.

[sbc]

Thank you for the reply. The more information the better I can handle myself in making this decision to get a Powerbook.

I really hate to repurchase software just for the Mac. I wish the cd's allowed one to install the PC or Mac version without buying an additional version; but who can get rich doing that (LOL). Since my desktop is a PC, I will have to settle using Virtual PC for webdesign software I currently own.

[Karim]

Originally posted by sbc:
I am in the laptop market and really beginning to like this machine. I have not used a Mac since 97-98 but I have some familiarity with it's environment. Just had a few questions

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?

4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

5. What case do you use?

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?

1 - 2:00 to 3:00 depending on energy saver config.
2 - No problems.
3 - Not possible.
4 - Size is great. It is not that different from a 15" height wise when the screen is open due to the low slung hinge.
5 - My briefcase
6 - I use VPC 6.1 with 1GB ram & Windoze 98 & 2000 (XP is dog slow) with 384 MB given to the PC

Your going to be blown away with this machine if your last experiences were in '98.

[ae86_16v]

Originally posted by sbc:
I am in the laptop market and really beginning to like this machine. I have not used a Mac since 97-98 but I have some familiarity with it's environment. Just had a few questions

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?

4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

5. What case do you use?

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?

1. I don't do any heavy work, usually just MS Word, Powerpoint, Safari, iChat, Airport and such. And I usually get at least 2:30 to 3:30. With the screen dimmed I get 3:30.

2. All my Office files open fine on my PC.

3. I am pretty sure no.

4. Truth be told, no. I used to own a 15" and it is a bit heavier than I would've liked. Size-wise it isn't too bad. But it is just heavy. Of course I never carried a +10 lbs Dell either.

6. I used to use Virtual PC on my 512mb and it was pretty unbearable. I haven't tried 1gb.

Goodluck.

[Lertsiri]

1. usually I get like 3 hours! Impressive! since I do stuff like Final Cut Pro 4 on the road and access DVD files for my Final Cut Pro Timelines.
2. All my documents from friends PC work fine on my Powerbook 17 vice versa when it comes to apple works stored in Word format..hope that helped...

3. I don't think the video ram is upgradable. although it has been on the wish list for Christmas of 2002 hehe

4. Using Powerbook G3 500 Pismo, I feel that the PB 17 " is easier to carry! Amazingly the thing is so thin that it makes up for the diagonal 17" display which by the way when compared to the Pismo, sits lower than the Pismo when opened!

6. sorry never went back once I took the Mac Pill so no need for Virtual PC..however the 1 gig ram did come in handy for Final Cut Pro 4 and Adobe Photoshop, Soundtrack, Internet all running at the same time!

Lertsiri Boonmee

[nobitacu]

I am in the laptop market and really beginning to like this machine. I have not used a Mac since 97-98 but I have some familiarity with it's environment. Just had a few questions

1. What are you getting on battery life average?

- From my everyday uses, listening to music, bright on highest level, wireless and bluetooth on... not much, around 2 - 2:30 hours... but without any of that activity, I can get around 3:30 to well over 4 hours of usage.

2. Do you have problems using files from (ex., Dreamweaver) between the Mac format and then to a PC version?

- I use Dramweaver, but I never needed to use my files from my PC to Mac. Sorry, can't really answer you here, but I don't think there would be any problem(s) to this at all.

3. Is the video ram upgradeable?

- I don't think it is.

4. Are you comfortable with the size and travelling? (BTW, I find the machine to be incredibly small considering the monitor size)

- I travel with it a lot. From classes to work, from airport to being on a airplane, in a car, around the house, you name it. I am very comfortable with the size so far.

5. What case do you use?

- Brenthaven 17inch case/backpack. I love everything about it, very very strong, and protects my beloved Powerbook like there's no tomorrow. I can fit a lot of books/stuff in it, sometimes well over 40 pounds maybe even 50. The zipper has never break or failed me to zip it all the way up, even if I have to use some force to close it with the zipper, it has never failed me or break. Very very well made and worth every penny I've spend on it, trust me, I abuse it like crazy.

6. If you use Virtual PC, are you using more than 1 gig ram?

- Yes, I have 500mb of ram for Virtual PC when I'm running it.

[sbc]

Thanks for the response. I have some time before I make my purchase, hopefully the updates would have been presented at that point. I will likely opt for the 2gigs RAM, one for the MacOS and the other for Virtual PC. The cost is steep but I have not seen a laptop match the size, build, performance of this machine. My only wishes would be for it to have a higher resolution option and smart card reader.

Additionally, does the PB worked with PCMCIA smart card readers and software? Any suggestion on companies that provide the kit for Mac's?

[slffl]

Have you ever used VirtualPC before? I was disapointed when I used it. Basically its faster to use Remote Desktop Control over a LAN than using VirtualPC. I don't think you'll be happy using Dreamweaver at all on VirtualPC.

Also, I got a PCMCIA CF card reader with the plan on leaving it in the slot all the time, however, the CF card goes all the way into the card instead of sticking out a little, so in order to remove the CF card, you must also eject the PCMCIA card. I think using a USB or Firewire 6 in 1 reader would be a better option.

[nobitacu]

Originally posted by slffl:
Have you ever used VirtualPC before? I was disapointed when I used it. Basically its faster to use Remote Desktop Control over a LAN than using VirtualPC. I don't think you'll be happy using Dreamweaver at all on VirtualPC.

Also, I got a PCMCIA CF card reader with the plan on leaving it in the slot all the time, however, the CF card goes all the way into the card instead of sticking out a little, so in order to remove the CF card, you must also eject the PCMCIA card. I think using a USB or Firewire 6 in 1 reader would be a better option.

Why even use Dreamweaver on Virtual PC??? just use the Mac OS X version, and everything will be running smooth as a baby's behind.

Ming

[nobitacu]

Originally posted by sbc:
Thanks for the response. I have some time before I make my purchase, hopefully the updates would have been presented at that point. I will likely opt for the 2gigs RAM, one for the MacOS and the other for Virtual PC. The cost is steep but I have not seen a laptop match the size, build, performance of this machine. My only wishes would be for it to have a higher resolution option and smart card reader.

Additionally, does the PB worked with PCMCIA smart card readers and software? Any suggestion on companies that provide the kit for Mac's?

2 gigs of ram in the 17inch? wow... something that I can ony dream of at this time, too much money for the rams for my blood... But yea, it was a huge difference using 256mb compair to 500mb of ram for the Virtual PC, I've never ran it at 1 gig, but you can be sure that it will be much smoother faster than if you're using 512mb of ram. Let us know how much difference does it run, I would like to know if it makes a large or even any difference at all.

Ming

[slffl]

Originally posted by nobitacu:
Why even use Dreamweaver on Virtual PC??? just use the Mac OS X version, and everything will be running smooth as a baby's behind.

Ming

I never said I was using Dreamweaver with VirtualPC. The poster said he was going to do that because he had Dreamweaver for PC and didn't want to buy it for mac.

[Karim]

Originally posted by sbc:
Thanks for the response. I have some time before I make my purchase, hopefully the updates would have been presented at that point. I will likely opt for the 2gigs RAM, one for the MacOS and the other for Virtual PC. The cost is steep but I have not seen a laptop match the size, build, performance of this machine. My only wishes would be for it to have a higher resolution option and smart card reader.

Additionally, does the PB worked with PCMCIA smart card readers and software? Any suggestion on companies that provide the kit for Mac's?

I've used Virtual PC since version 1.0 and am now using 6.1.

I don't think your going to get much of a bang for your bucks if you get 2GB's of RAM.

The increase in speed of devoting 1GB as opposed to 512MB is going to be neglible in my opinion.

When Connectix owned VPC they had a forum that discussed this issue. The same was asked for desktop machines and their was no appreciable speed gain.

The cost of 2GB is substantially more for the Powerbook than a desktop so I think you may want to see VPC in action on a desktop using 512MB and then 1GB and compare and contrast before you spend alot of money on ram.

[nobitacu]

Originally posted by Karim:
I've used Virtual PC since version 1.0 and am now using 6.1.

I don't think your going to get much of a bang for your bucks if you get 2GB's of RAM.

The increase in speed of devoting 1GB as opposed to 512MB is going to be neglible in my opinion.

When Connectix owned VPC they had a forum that discussed this issue. The same was asked for desktop machines and their was no appreciable speed gain.

The cost of 2GB is substantially more for the Powerbook than a desktop so I think you may want to see VPC in action on a desktop using 512MB and then 1GB and compare and contrast before you spend alot of money on ram.

For the money you will be spending on the 2 gigs of rams, you might as well just buy another copy of Dreamweaver for Mac OS X and go with that. That least than you know you will be running the program at a fast speed and it'll run stable. Best of all, it'll save you lots of money than to go out and buy 2 gigs of ram for the Powerbook and spend well over $1,200 for them.

Ming

[sbc]

WOW! I did not know the ram cost so much. I think I'll just stick to the gig-RAM and dedicate 512 when using VirtualPC. Getting the 2Gigs does defeat the purpose of saving money; then with the speed difference from 512 up being marginal, there is no point of wasting money.

I'll purchase Mac programs circa late '04 or early '05.